obviously the debt ceiling is another point of which we will face with how to deal with the spiraling debt and out-of-control spending in washington, and i know the h desire to see the reduction i the need to borrow, the balancing of our budget and actually a return to a real growth in america of jobs, of the economy, of economic opportunity for all. and it is in that spirit that i know that he approaches this issue and so do i and i would say to the gentleman, when the rating agencies look at the credit worthiness of our nation -- and i think some of which have said as much -- it is, yes, to observe a political system that works, but it is also to make sure that there is demonstrable evidence that we are making progress in dealing with the problem. and that is the focus that we must all maintain. i mean, we know that the dispr portionate problem of the debt -- disproportionate problem of the debt have to deal with the unfunded liabilities of the entitlement programs. and we can see the white house and the president call for tax increases every other day, every day for that matter, an